Loose-leaf binder



May 22, 1928.

J. G. SMART LOOSE LEAF BINDER Eiled Nov. e, 1924 Egg;

Patented May 22, 1928. l

UNITED STATES JOHN G. SMART,`OF,VWIN1\`I'IPEGy MANITOBA, CANADA.y y

PATENT OFFICE'.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application med November e, 1924. serial No. 748,162. j

each other of the post-s utilized for holding the leaves, thereby permitting one :to adjust theposts as occasionrequires to accommodate the perforations of the leaves used. A further object isto provide a construction which can be readily adapted to thel various types of existing loose leaf binders now'in use. f

A further object is lto construct theappliance kin a simple', inexpensive and durable manner and so that the adjustmenty can bey quickly and eectively made and such that L "indicated at9 to the top and bottom plates the appliance will not interfere in any way with thel ready and quick removal or insertion of leaves. l

A further Objectis toconstruct the device so that one cank lock the slidesor blocks of j the top plate to the topA plate ,when desired.

.A further object isto provide adjustable Astops to prevent edge shifting of the leaves. With theabove and other minor objects, which will become `more apparent as the description proceeds, infview the invention con-v sists essentlally 1n the arrangement and construction `of parts hereinafter more particularly described, referencebeing had tothe:

accompanying drawing in which: Y Fig. 1 1s a perspective View of av binder embodylng my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view through a portion of the binder,

j thesection being .longitudinally and cen- `trally through the slots in the plates.y l Fig. 3 is al verticalcross 'sectional viewat 3 3 Figure 2.

, Fig. 4 is a perspective `view showing the;

ktype .of collar used on theadjusting screws. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed yvertical sectional view at 5 5A Figure 2. j Fig. 6 is a perspective view ofone of the adjusting slides or blocks. e 4 n VIn the drawing like characters of reference indicate; corresponding parts in the several figures. v j' l In loose'leaf system-s it is. common practice to bind the loose leaves lbetween upper and -lower binding plates 2 and 3, the leaves being provided with perforations 4 which receive binding posts 5 andextending between the plates'. Bindingposts are now made 'so that they can be screwed together as best shown in Figures'Q-and 3, lin order.

mentarytor thel walls 12 and 13. blocks carry the posts 5 and 6, thelower 'ends'of which are screwed into the blocks n the block.

to permit one to increase the thickness of the binder, but .so far as I am aware no provision has as yet been made to permit of the adjustment towards or away from each other in order to accommodate the perforations of the sheets which it may be vdesired ito bind in the' binder. 4

`now used. f

j The front and backl lcovers 7 and 8'of`the binder are `hinged in the usual manner as andthe top and bottomplates are'both provided with lengthwise extending centrally positioned end slots 10' and 11, these slots having their outer ends open and the side v lwalls 12 and k13 thereof converging'upwardly. y t 'Y In each of the slots of the lower plate I mount a slide .or block yltadapted to slider therein and having taperingl sides comple- These and obviously when the blocks 14 are moved '.endwisel within theslots, the posts will be shifted towards or away from each other, depending on 'the movement given. -The upper ends of the posts extend centrally through. the slots 10 and 11 and are received within similar upper slides or blocks x15 and 16 which are provided with means for clamping'theblocks tothe posts. The upper slides or blocks are slidably mounted in the upper slots forendwise movement, inthe same manner as the lower ones and lthey `are provided each with an opening 17 for thepost and a lengthwise extending slo'tf V18 `exten'dingfrom one end vof the block inwardly to`v the opening 17. e y y An adjusting screw 19 is carried by'each ofl theblocks 15 and 16. the adjusting screw having one end thereof rotatably mounted in the leg 20 of the block and the other end thereof screw threadedl through the leg 21 of A finger grip 22 is permanently'secu'red to thenon-threaded end of the screw2 the finger gripbeingformed integrally with a shoulder 23 whichengages the outer face the bleek and prevents @ad movement of the screw in one direction. A collar 24 is placed on each screw within the slot 18, this collar being adapted to prevent end movement of the -screw in the opposite direction to that just intimated.

In the present instance I have Vshown thei the screwing inthe same direction be continued he will subsequently Vlock tl1e`,block tothe top plate as the spreading ofthe legs willcause the lower part of the Iblock to frictionally jam in the slot. The reverse movement of the screw will obviously tighten the blocks on the posts.

The open ends of the slots are' closed by pairs of jam plates 26 and 27 the-plates being connected by a fastening screw 28. The ends ofthe top and bottom plates are partially cut away so as to 4keep the outer faces of the plates 26 and `27 flush with the top and bottom faces of the plates 2 and 3. Qnelcan adjust the plates 26 and 27 in or out `with respect to the slots, depending on the width of leaf used in the binder.

l When oneinitially desires to place some perforated leaves fin my binder, he releases the screws 22 and removes the top plate fromI the posts. He then moves the posts 5 and 6 towards or away from each other to position them so that they will receive the perforations of the sheets or leaves .it is desired to enter in the binder.V The posts having been properlypositioned or centred, one then Vplaces the leaves on the posts in the usual Vmanner and subsequently vreplaces the ltop plate, the lslides or blocks 15 and 16 being adjusted in the top slots inY order to permit the posts to enter. the opening 17 therein. This being accomplished, one then tightens up the screws to cause the top blocks to` tightly grip the posts. Prior to tightening the screws, 4one can press down on the top plate so that when the screws are finally vtightened up, the leaves will be 'firmly bound. Any Iedge shifting of the leaves in respect to the binder is prevented by the jam plates 26y and 27 which are adjusted to-engage the upper and lower edges of the inserted leaves.y y`

If one desires to add further leaves to the binder, lhe will turn the screws 22 far enough to release the posts and jam the top blocks in the slots. He then would remove the top plate and the blocks 15 and 16 would not shift. This locking ofthe top blocks in the slots obviously avoids having to adjust theseblockseach time new leaves are to be put in the binder.

'i Whilst I have entered into a detailed description of the particular meansv utilized for vlclamping thetop slides to the posts and locking them to the plate, still I wish it to lbe distinctly understood that I do not d ebers lfreely sliding/in the plates and movable towards or away from one another and binding posts carried by the members of the bottom plate and passing through the members of the top plate, means for'releasably fastening the top members to the'posts .and

,means for locking the members in the plates.

2. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with top and bottom binding plates adaptedto receive perforated leaves therebetween,

of posts slidab'ly carried bythe bottom plate to permit 4of the. adjustmentof the posts to accommodate the distance between centres of the leaf perforations, said posts passing through the', top plate, `sliding members carried by the top pla-te and receiving the upper Iends of the posts, nieans for releasably clamping the said sliding members to the posts and adjust-able means'carried bythe fwn and bottom plates andi-.arranged t0 00D- tact with edges ofthe upper lower 3. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with top and bottom binding plates adapted to receive perforated leavestherebetween,n

of blocks carried'by the bottom plate and endwise respect to the plate, upstanding binding posts earried'by the blocks and passing through the Aperforations of ythe leaves and through lengthwise extending slots lprovided in the .upper bindingplate, upper blocks slidablymou'nted in the slots of the upper plate and having openings therein to receive the posts and slots extending 'from said 4latter openingsto oneend of the block and adjusting screws carried by the latter blocks and crossing vthe slots, said screws being designed to jam the blocks to the posts when ,turned in one direction and 'to spread the blocks to-preventsliding thereof inthe slots of thetop "binding plate vupon the screws being turned'in the oppositedirection. i' 'f lQIn a Aloose leaf binder, the combination with top and bottom binding plates, provided with lengthwise extending slots and adapted to receive therebetween a plurality of perforated leaves of lower blocks slidably mounted in the slots of the bottom plate, binding posts carried by the lower blocks and extending upwardly through the leaves and through perforations of the slots of the upper plate, split blocks slidably mounted in the slots of the upper plate and receiving the upper ends oi the posts, adjustable jam screws carried by the upper blocks and designed when turned in one direction to jam the blocks on the posts and when turned in the opposite direction to spread the said latter blocks in the channels.

5. In a loose leaf binder, the combination f with top and bottom binding plates, provided with lengthwise extending slots and adapted to receive therebetween a plurality of perforated leaves, of lower blocks slidably mounted in the slots of the bottom plate,

, binding posts carried by the lower blocks and screws carried bythe upper blocks and designed when turned in one direction to jam the blocks on the posts and when turned in the opposite direction to spread the said latter blocks in the channels and adjustable jam plate located in the outer ends of the slots and arranged to contact with the upper and lower edges of the inserted leaves.

Signed at Winnipeg, this 12 day of September 1924.

.JOHN G. SMART. t 

